Yves wrote:I only care about those two instruments cello solo and double bass solo . . .
I would prefer to take Solo Strings even if N4 will not use all additional samples in its preset if the samples that are in use have more dynamics steps . . . but I can't find more information on this.
With the caveat that I do not have this Vienna Symphonic Library (VSL) product or any other VSL product except the VSL orchestral instruments that come with Kontakt 5 (Native Instruments), I am intrigued by some of the VSL technologies, in particular Vienna Ensemble Pro 5. The VSL instruments are beyond what I can afford, as well, but so what . . . The most important advice I have is that
you can get very detailed information on VSL Solo Strings 1 and Solo Strings 2 by registering for a user account at the VSL website, which (a) costs nothing and (b) makes it possible for you to download the various VSL library manuals and other VSL product documentation in PDF format . . .
This is the VSL website page where you register for a VSL User Account:
Welcome to your Personal User Area (Vienna Symphonic Library)You need to provide your email address; a user name; and a password for your VSL Personal User Area; and you can sign-up for the VSL newsletter and occasional announcements of discount sales and so forth . . .
The VSL folks are prudent in their emails, so you only get an email from the VSL folks when it probably is something you will find interesting . . .
I downloaded the library manual for Solo Strings I and II, which actually is the "Vienna Instruments Solo I & II Mapping Documentation", and it is a PDF file with 192 pages of very detailed information which I think will be more than sufficient to answer your question about "dynamics steps" and a lot more, since for each of the four instruments (violin, viola, cello, and string bass), it has all the information, with "all" being a bit of an understatement . . .
For example, this is the overview information for VSL Solo Strings I String Bass dynamics, which is followed by more detailed information about each specific dynamic level, type, style, and so forth . . .
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NOTE: To see the full image, right-click on it and there be a menu-item similar to "View Image", which is the one to use if you are using the Firefox web browser . . . ]
This is one of the ten (10) detail sections for String Bass dynamics . . .
There are more dynamics in VSL Solo Strings II String Bass, where there are an additional 13 different types of Sordino dynamics . . .
However, it is important to understand that there are three libraries (Standard, Extended, and Full), and based on the prices you provided, you are looking at the Standard library, which does
not have all the dynamics . . .
The details for the Standard and Extended libraries are found at this page:
Standard and Extended libraries for Solo Strings I (Vienna Symphonic Library)The details for the Full library is found at this link in the lower part of the page, and the highly detailed information for the Full library is found in the user manual (
see above), of course:
Full library for Solo Strings I (Vienna Symphonic Library)You will need a "Vienna Key"--which is a USB dongle--to use Solo Strings I & II or any of the other VSL products . . .
THOUGHTSSince your focus is specifically on cello and string bass, I like the idea of getting Solo Strings I and II, but it is a bit expensive . . .
There is an upgrade path, so you could start with the Standard version of Solo Strings I and add to it over time when there are discount sales . . .
Another strategy is to wait until there is a discount sale on the Solo Strings I and II Bundle . . .
Regarding the way this will work with NOTION 4, I think there are mappings for some of the VSL libraries, but you probably will want to plan on creating your own user-defined custom rules, since you can be very precise this way and can tailor the various articulations to your specific needs . . .
It is possible that some of the folks who use VSL products with NOTION 4 already have user-defined custom rules that they can share or at least can provide some advice on how to create your own user-defined custom rules . . .
If you need something different for each individual note--as contrasted to using the same articulations, dynamics, and playing styles for phrases--then I think you will need to explore and to understand user-defined custom rules, but when the focus is on phrases, you can do this with a MULTI, where you load the VSL VSTi virtual instrument with a set of articulations and so forth for String Bass, with each one assigned to a different channel, which than makes it possible to change articulations and so forth by switching channels for the String Bass staff, which is easy to do via SHIFT+i and channel switching (which actually is called "instrument switching"), where the advantage of the MULTI-Channel-Switching strategy is that it uses the raw samples without "adjusting" them by doing calculations and so forth, hence will be the most realistic, as well as requiring no specific music notation for the articulations, dynamics, and playing styles . . .
In other words, when a string bass phrase is a particular type of legato, you will use the matching set of samples where the bassist actually played the notes in the particular type of legato, with no intervening computing being done . . .
For reference, I played string bass at first but switched to electric bass after a few years, and stayed with electric bass for half a century, so I certainly understand the need for deep bass and all the finer aspects of deep bass tone and texture . . .
Intuitively, the Solo Strings I and Solo Strings II libraries appear to me to be the most focused with respect to cello and string bass, and while they are a bit expensive, as noted you can get them in phases or steps . . .
The fact of the matter is that bass is the foundation or fabric upon which everything else rides, but for some unknown reason this basic fact is not so well known or understood by most composers, arrangers, and producers, which has the unfortunate consequence that while they could be making wonderful music, without deep bass it sounds like it was played through an orange juice tin can . . .
In the
Pop music universe, the big clues are "Heartbreak Hotel" (Elvis Presley) and "Billy Jean" (Michael Jackson), along with every early Beatles hit record, which is fabulous . . .
"Heartbreak Hotel" (Elvis Presley) ~ YouTube music video"Billy Jean" (Michael Jackson) ~ YouTube music videoFabulous! P. S. If for some reason you cannot download the user manual for Solo Strings I & II, send me a PM, since I might be an an anarchistic mood and might attach the PDF file to my reply; but it is easy to register at the VSL website, and this is the
preferred way for you to do this, since it gets you on the VSL mailing list, which is a good way to keep informed on discount sales and other promotions . . .